Major acts mark 40 years of Prescott Park Arts Festival

Rosanne Cash, Justin Townes Earle, Martin Sexton, Iris Dement ... these are just a few of the well-known musicians who will take the stage at the Prescott Park Arts Festival in the coming months.

Jeanné McCartin

Rosanne Cash, Justin Townes Earle, Martin Sexton, Iris Dement ... these are just a few of the well-known musicians who will take the stage at the Prescott Park Arts Festival in the coming months.

This year's lineup — celebrating the 40th year of the festival — came about as part of a surprise collaboration between two of the Seacoast's major music fans.

The surprise is that festival Executive Director Ben Anderson let someone else take part in the music programming this year.

"I'm really surprised he opened the door — really, really surprised," says Chris Hislop, program collaborator and Spotlight's music writer. "I never saw it coming."

Anderson is direct about how difficult the decision was.

"This is the first time ever in my entire career I've brought someone on board to help book things," he says. "I'm very protective of it."

Increased festival responsibilities required the move, he says.

He was overseeing the building of a new pavilion, working on the festival's capital campaign, negotiating terms with the city, plus the usual responsibilities, "and I was putting together the music. It's the 40th anniversary this year, so I really needed somebody to help do it right."

Anderson and Hislop have bonded over music over the years. Anderson respected Hislop's musical tastes, and trusted his abilities.

"So, I opened my door a crack," says Anderson, who remains curator. "It was hard to do. ...; But it became a great partnership."

He adds that "many things stem from what you book on stage; the vibe of the festival. It's the body if you will; everything stems from that. To get help meant getting someone that understood the vibe and the vision and what we're trying to build, what type of acts we bring in. ...; I don't think I could have done it with anyone beside Chris."

Hislop, who is immersed in the local music scene, previously booked national and regional talent for The Stone Church in Newmarket.

He co-produced a show with Anderson years back, when the park arranged a side stage of local talent at the Folk Festival.

Anderson invited him out for drinks in January.

"But then he said, 'Are you interested in helping me out (with the music program)?" Hislop recalls. "I think I literally spit some of the drink out. I said there's nothing else I'd rather do."

Initially, Hislop was brought in to work the phones, and run down Anderson's selections.

"But it wasn't cut and dry," Anderson says. "It was an organic process."

Setting a program means a lot of footwork, reaching out to a dozen or so artists to maybe land one. The act has to be in town at the right time, Anderson explains. Necessary changes led the two to more in-depth conversation — lots of conversation as both tell it — and greater collaboration.

"The two of us are huge music nerds. We sit in the office and talk about music more than we work," Hislop says, laughing. "We air the ideas, wants and desires of who we want to see on that stage, and we go after them. We've had good success - great success."

The nerds are thrilled about every artist in the season lineup, but both cite landing Dr. John & The Nite Trippers, who play Sept. 13, as a real coup.

"It's somebody Ben has been eyeballing for a few years," Hislop says. "That's going to be a good day for sure."

"He's a massive legend," Anderson adds. "It's a real honor to have him on the bill to end the holiday season."

Picking favorites among children isn't easy, and Anderson clarifies there isn't a mediocre artist in the lot.

But some, like Dr. John, stand out for one reason or another.

"Here's one, it's (this year's) Lake Street Dive," Anderson says, referring to an earlier discovery pick — the band went national after two park appearances. "It's Matt Andersen from Canada. ...; He's a force to be reckoned with. That's coming right up on July 9."

"Matt Andersen is a blues-based singer-songwriter. He puts on a show that you cannot believe. He's a giant in Canada, heading all the festivals and selling out venues," Anderson says. "But it's a case of doing it all north of the border, and just not getting well known south of it. He's simply going to blow things out of the water here."

Justin Townes Earle is back. Last year thousands showed up in the rain to listen to him, but it poured and the concert was canceled.

"He's a personal favorite," Anderson says. "It's going to be an exceptional show."

"I'm pumped for that show," Hislop says. "I'm also excited for Houndmouth, sort of an up-and-coming indie troupe from Indiana. I think they're going to be huge. I think it's one of those discovery acts that Prescott Park is known for pulling in."

Hurray for the Riff Raff, another former find that "were just on David Letterman a couple of nights ago," Anderson says.

"That's the beauty of the Festival. It's such a great opportunity. You're not looking at a $50 or $100 ticket. It's give-what-you-can and you get a great opportunity to be exposed to music you don't recognize or know a lot about.

"You can check it out for five minutes or stay for the whole thing. I love that about the park. It lets you experiment."

Some acts that went national since performing the park have voiced interest in returning — and will, Anderson says, "it's lining up schedules."

"And I'm excited for Ingrid Michaelson. We tried to get her for a very long time. I was on the edge of my seat for many months," Hislop says. "We've tried since January and she just locked in a few weeks ago."

The park's music program offers both the River House Restaurant Concert Series, generally Wednesday nights, but occasionally presents other evenings, and a series of festivals including the Showcase, Americana, Jazz, Folk, Country and the Roots & Rhythm festivals.

"For the Folk Festival we'll have the Wood Brothers and Shakey Graves. That will be a fantastic evening," Anderson says. "A lot of people are excited about Shakey Graves, but there's five acts and they're all outstanding."

"Taj Mahal is coming back" he says, then pauses and adds. "Really, there are too many too list."

And that is thanks to the team of two great music fans, on the same wavelength, with similar ears fully understanding the one vision.

"What it's about is getting really good music people respond to. That's what I'm after. I want to see a sea full of people totally mesmerized by what's on stage," Anderson says. " You can do that with any type of music and you'll find that our bill, traditional bluegrass to indie pop, to edgy folk, it's a full range."

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